Rotatably adjustable bristle head



Oct. 11, 1955 c. c. HIBBS ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE BRISTLE HEAD Filed Feb; 11, 1953 Fig.

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C Y B United States Patent ee ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE BRISTLE HEAD Charlie C. Hibbs, Bismarck, N. Dak. Application February 11, 1953, Serial No. 336,233

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-172) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in handle structures and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a handle structure adapted to releasably hold a bristle head such as that disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,618,801.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a handle structure including a rotatably adjustable bristle-head holder that may be retained at a desired angle relative to the hand gripping portion of the handle so that the teeth and gums of a users mouth may be effectively massaged and stimulated while the users hand is held in a comfortable position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a handle structure embodying novel and improved means for retaining the bristle-head holder in a selected rotatable position relative to the hand gripping portion of the handle structure.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a handle structure of the aforementioned character that is extremely simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, eflicient and durable in use, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the present invention and showing a bristle head secured to the holder;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the present invention and showing a bristle head applied to the holder;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary group perspective view showing the holder spaced from the cylindrical end portion of the hand gripping member and the bristle head removed;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 2 and showing the bristle head in dotted lines and showing the handle in different adjusted positions; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the holder is formed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, numeral represents a handle structure primarily intended to be used in holding a bristle head H such as that disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,618,801. Handle structure 10 includes an elongated hand gripping portion or member 12 having an offset cylindrical outer end portion 14 whose upper periphery is formed with a longitudinal rib or lug 16 that projects radially outwardly from the end portion 14.

A holder 18 is removably supported on the cylindrical end portion 14 and includes a substantially tubular portion 20 that is yieldingly engaged over end portion 14.

2,719,998 Patented Oct. 11, 1955 Tubular portion 20 is rotatable and slidable on end portion 14 and includes a slot 22 that slidably receives the rib 16 to permit rotation of the holder on end portion 14. Portion 20 is also provided with a series of circumferentially spaced longitudinal slits or slots 24 that intersect and extend rearwardly from slot 22 for selectively receiving the rib 16 to retain the holder 18 in a selected rotated position on end portion 14.

Tubular portion 20 is provided with a longitudinal opening spaced from the ends of the slot 20. The edges of portion 22 defining the opening are integrally formed with facing angle gripping flanges 26 and 28 that will yieldingly grip the sides of the bristle head H.

Holder 18 is preferably formed from a substantially rectangular blank 30 of resilient sheet metal, as shown in Figure 5, with the ends of the blank 30 being bent toward each other and angulated to form the cylindrical portion 20 and the gripping flanges 26 and 28, after the slot 22 and slots 24 have been provided in the blank.

In practical use of the present invention, the holder 18 is readily slipped upon the cylindrical end portion 14 with the rib 16 positioned within the slot 22. The bristle head H is yieldingly fitted between the gripping flanges 26 and 28 to be held by the holder 18. Then, the holder 18 is rotated upon end portion 14 until the bristle head H is disposed at a desired inclined angle relative to the hand gripping member 12, after which the holder 18 is moved forwardly so that the rib 16 will be yieldingly retained in a selected one of the slits 24.

The user may then employ the handle structure for massaging and stimulating the gums by placing the bristle head H in his mouth and comfortably moving the hand gripping member 12 with a reciprocatory motion. Since the rib 16 will be yieldingly gripped by the edges defining one of the slits 24, the holder will remain stationary with respect to the cylindrical end portion 14 once the desired adjustment has been made.

It is preferred that the hand gripping member 12 be constructed from a plastic material so that the same may be retained in a clean and sanitary condition. The metal forming holder 18 is also constructed from a suitable material that is readily cleaned to be retained in a sanitary condition.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and .further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A handle structure comprising an elongated member having a cylindrical end portion, a longitudinal rib on said cylindrical end portion projecting radially outwardly from said cylindrical end portion, a bristle-head holder including a resilient substantially tubular portion yieldingly engaged over said cylindrical end portion and rotatable and slidable on the latter, the tubular portion of said holder having a circumferentially extending arcuate slot therein in which said rib is movable as the holder is rotated on said cylindrical end portion, said tubular portion of said holder also having a series of circumferentially spaced longitudinal slits opening into said slot and adapted to selectively receive said rib when said tubular portion is slid on said cylindrical end portion whereby to retain the holder in a selected rotated position on said cylindrical end portion, said holder having a longitudinal opening splitting the same to provide for said holder gripping said cylindrical end portion by its resiliency, said 2,719,998 3 holder having a pair of opposed flanges extending along the edges of said opening and resilient ,for gripping a 600,159 bristle head therebetween. 630,297

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,630 Higbee Nov. 8,1921 2,130,661 Zaebst Sept. 20,1938

4 FOREIGN PATENTS France Feb. 1,1926 Great Britain Oct. 10, 1949 

